Dahi Bhalla (Dahi Bara) – Easy-to-follow, Foolproof!

Here’s an easy-to-follow, foolproof recipe for fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth Dahi Bhalla (or Dahi Baray). This recipe includes tips and tricks to get them soft yet fully cooked inside. Tested to perfection!

“This recipe is AMAZING!! I never attempted to make dahi bhallas because of how technical it can be but I have already made this 4-5 times and the bhallas come out perfect every single time. Super soft and fluffy.”

Kiran

I’m going to say something a food blogger must never say about a recipe they’re about to share.

Dahi Bhalle are finicky.

That’s why even seasoned cooks often resort to box mixes and pre-made bhalle.

But I’m also here to tell you that you can, indeed, make Dahi Bhalle from scratch. Soft, fluffy, actually-flavorful ones. And that too without fussing or guessing or fretting. All you need are a few ratios and tips, which I’ve done my best to convey in this recipe.

The 3 Tips to making Dahi Bhalla Foolproof

Now that we’ve established that Dahi Bhalla are naturally a little finicky, there are a few things we can do to minimize their risk factor:

1. Cheat and use baking powder. It makes them softer. In fact, the more you add, the softer they’ll be. I like to use just enough so they’re noticeably but not artificially soft and spongy.
2. Make a double batch. A small batch, which I’ve shared in the pictures, video, and recipe card works fine. But after several tests, I’ve found a larger quantity just blends easier and better. Plus, you get to freeze the rest for later.
3. Make the bhallas smaller (around 1 tbsp, max 1.5). Restaurants/Chaat Houses often serve large bhallas, but I found that the smaller ones are softer, absorb more yogurt, and fry better.

For more tips, scroll to my Troubleshooting Bhallas Table.

What is Dahi Bhalla?

Dahi Bhalla is a popular Indian and Pakistani snack in which lentil dumplings (bhallas) are doused in yogurt (dahi) and topped with sweet and spicy chutneys. Categorically, it fits in the realm of chaat, a term that refers to the wide variety of street foods like fruit chaat, papri chaat, samosa chaat, and so much more. (Another popular snack item that can be found in Pakistani bakeries is Chicken Puff Pastries.)

Dahi Bhallas are festive and people often make them during holidays like Ramadan and Eid.

Dahi Bhalla vs Dahi Vada

Depending on the region, the name and ingredients vary slightly:

• Punjab – Dahi Bhalla (plural Dahi Bhalle/Bhallay).
• Urdu – Dahi Bara (plural Dahi Baray).
• Parts of India – Dahi Vada.

Ingredients You’ll Need

There are 3 ingredient categories: The Bhallas, the yogurt, and the toppings.

Ingredients for Bhallas

• Split & husked (or dhuli) Urad Dal: Also known as Maash ki Dal, this is the most commonly used dal for Dahi Bhallas. Maash ki dal is mild, creamy, and starchy, which translates well into batter form.
• Chana Dal (split gram lentils): Using only maash ki dal can give one-dimensional flavor, so many recipes add moong dal along with maash. Chana dal, though not so commonly used, gives a beautiful flavor and texture to the bhallas. You could try using equal weight in moong dal but I’ve yet to try it myself.
• Flavor enhancers: I add garlic, ginger, red chili pepper, and salt along with cumin seeds.
• Baking powder: I tried many different quantities to determine the best amount. 1/2 tsp is good insurance for making them soft. But 3/4 tsp is great insurance. More than 3/4 tsp can make them a bit spongy.
  • Note for 3x batch: If tripling the batch, do not triple the baking powder as the bhallas get quite spongy. Use 2 tsp for the perfect consistency.

Ingredients for Yogurt

• Yogurt: Use plain, whole milk yogurt. Because yogurt can vary in its thickness and natural sugars, you may need to adjust the liquid and sugar quantities in the recipe.
• Milk and water: Both are used to thin out the yogurt. You can use only milk if you’d like, but depending on how thick my yogurt is, I like using a bit of water to get it to a runny consistency.
• Spices: I add red chili powder and Chaat Masala directly to the yogurt, but you can keep it simple with just sugar and salt. I developed the recipe with store-bought chaat masala because I know that’s what most people have. If using homemade chaat masala, add additional salt, sugar, and heat if needed. You can also try using dahi bara chaat masala, which is made specifically for dahi bhalle.

Ingredients for Topping

I’ve shared quick and easy recipes for the chutneys if you’d like to make yours at home. Both recipes make a small batch, enough for double the recipe. Store leftovers airtight in the fridge.

Chutney Recipes

How to Make Dahi Bhalla

1. Soak the dal: I know! Who remembers to soak? But this can’t be skipped. Soak for 8 hours at least, but not more than 24 or it’ll start fermenting😅. Soaking really does contribute to softer bhallas because they’ll just blend better.

2. Make the Bhalla batter: This may be the only tricky part about making Dahi Bhallas. Mainly, you need to add just the right amount of water. Initially, I’d see many recipes that would caution against adding any extra water, which ended up giving me dry, tough bhallas. Then I started watering the dang things, and I was left with doughy, uncooked centers. That’s why I’ve given you a max and min range. Constraints are healthy.

3. Whisk the batter: Many recipes suggest whisking the batter for a good 8-10 minutes. I didn’t find this step necessary. As long as you get some (vigorous!) aeration in, the batter will be light and spongy.

4. Test: I saw this first on the legendary Veg Recipes of India’s Dahi Bhalla recipe. To test to see if the batter is aerated enough, drop a bit of batter in a bowl of water. If it floats, that means it’s aerated enough.

5. Fry the Bhallas. Fry the bhallas over medium heat so they don’t brown too quickly and have enough time to cook from the inside.

6. Soak the bhallas: Transfer to a paper-towel lined plate before immediately transfering to the water bath. I haven’t found that the temperature of the water matters here, but I usually go for lukewarm. You’ll know they’ve soaked long enough when the color gets lighter and they’ve lost their firmness.

7. Remove water: Squeeze each bhalla between the hollows of your hands to drain the water out. Then transfer to your serving platter.

8. Prepare yogurt: This part is completely adaptable. Adjust to taste if you want the yogurt plain, sweeter, tangier, or spicier. I’ve used base/minimum amounts.

9. Assemble. Pour the yogurt over the bhallas (or drop the bhallas in the yogurt), making sure the bhallas are appropriately doused. Before serving, top with chutneys and sprinkle with chaat masala and red chili powder.

Dahi Bhalla Toppings

• Essentials: Imli ki Chutney, Green Chutney, Chaat Masala, Red Chili Powder or Paprika.
• Papri: These are round, crispy, fried disks that you can find at Indian/Pakistani grocery stores.
• Sev: Also available at Desi grocery stores, these are small pieces of crunchy noodles often made from chickpea flour.
• Pomegranate Arils: I haven’t tried this myself but when is pomegranate a bad idea?
• Onion, Boiled Potatoes, & Chickpeas: For dahi bhalla chaat vibes.

Troubleshooting Bhallas

As much as I’d like to forget it, my engineering background cannot escape me. And I do think tables are the answer for so many food-related frustrations. (If you like data, check out my biryani rice tables.)

Problem	What May Have Gone Wrong	Solution
Dal batter won’t grind well.	The soaking time may have been short or the dals may be aged.	The batter needs more water and/or dals need to be blended longer (2+ minutes).
Stiff/tough/hard bhallas.	The batter needs more water or baking powder.	After you’ve added the initial water, add an extra 1 tbsp of water. Add an extra 1/4 tsp baking powder to soften.
Dense bhallas.	The batter needs more aeration.	Whisk longer or more vigorously.
Bhallas are uncooked or raw from the center.	The batter may have been too watery. (Refer to batter too thin/watery.) The bhallas may not have fried long enough to cook on the inside.	Fry the bhallas for longer over medium heat. Check for doneness by cutting one open.
Batter too thin or watery.	Too much water in the batter.	If you haven’t exceeded the water limit, this probably won’t happen. If it does, add 1/2 tbsp of fine semolina, gram flour, or rice flour. Try not to add too much as it can cause tough bhallas.
Bhallas are developing dome shape while frying.	The oil is likely too hot, causing the dough from the inside to ooze out. They may also not be moving around enough.	Reduce heat so the bhallas can fry evenly. Keep turning to prevent the tops from remaining uncooked.

More Tips & Tricks

• Instead of cranking the heat high and then lowering, heat the oil over medium heat. It maintains the heat better.
• To have less dishes to clean: Instead of transfering the blended batter to a bowl, just whisk the batter while it’s in the blender blender. Also, whisk the yogurt in the pan you’ll serve it in.
• To make a flatter shape: Drop the bhallas by the spoonful instead of using a cookie scoop. Use another spoon to slide the batter down. You can also flatten the bhalla while squeezing out the water after soaking.
• On baking soda: After experimenting with baking soda, I found that while baking soda slightly puffs up the bhallas, too much can make the outside crispy. You can experiment with adding a little if you’d like (1/4 tsp), but I didn’t find it necessary and therefore didn’t include in the final recipe.

How to Freeze Bhallas

Dahi Bhallas are incredibly freezer-friendly! Here’s how to freeze them:

1. Once you’ve fried the bhallas, allow them to cool.
2. Place in an airtight container or zip-lock bag. Store in freezer for up to 3 months. (Side note: I’ve tested freezing both before and after the water bath and it was very clear that they’re best stored before the water bath. There’s too much texture loss if you squeeze out water and then freeze.)
3. When ready to use, place in a bowl of warm or hot water. Allow to soak for 30-40 minutes, or until completely thawed and soft.
4. Squeeze out water as directed before proceeding with the recipe.

More Storage Tips

• Fridge: Store fried bhallas in an airtight container or zip-top bag in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Storing bhalla batter: Bhalla batter can be kept in the fridge up to overnight before the baking powder starts to lose its effect. You may notice a bit of water rise to the top. Whisk before using to aerate the batter.

More Iftar recipes:

• Chicken Puff Pastry
• Fruit Chaat
• Shami Kabab
• Crispy Vegetable Pakora

P.S. Check out this roundup of 15+ Iftar recipes or browse the Ramadan archives for many more ideas.

Tried this recipe? If you have a minute, please consider leaving a comment telling me how it was! If you’re on Instagram, please tag me so I can see your creations. I truly love hearing from you. Thank you!